Every year, a few days before Diwali, India collectively decides to spend money, and for once the decision comes with theological sanction. Dhanteras, the first day of the festival, holds that whatever is bought now, whether gold, silver or a gleaming new utensil, invites prosperity into the house for the year ahead.
It is the rare occasion on which extravagance is indistinguishable from piety, and the jewellers of every Indian city know it. By evening, the shop floors are a hush of velvet trays and negotiated weights.
The traditional shopping list was a modest one: a gold coin, a gold bar, a steel vessel to be carried home like a trophy. But the modern buyer, particularly the modern man, has grown more ambitious, and a little more sceptical of the inert. Why should an investment sit in a locker when it can sit on a wrist like a watch, that most defensible of male indulgences, has quietly become the Dhanteras purchase of the discerning: an object that holds its value, rewards its owner daily, and can be handed down with a story attached.
Not only watch, there are plenty other gold standard items to add to your shopping cart. Here is a guide for those who intend to buy well rather than merely buy. Some of the choices are sacred, some are sensible, and a few are frankly splendid. All of them, in the spirit of the day, are meant to outlast the season.
Price: ₹77,000
The LV Tailor small chain bracelet will become an immediate, and indispensable, favorite among the other pieces of jewelry. Crafted from sterling silver, the thin strand of links is interspersed with delicate plates engraved with the LV Initials and Monogram signatures. A light finish of black patina complements the style's innate elegance with an edge, aged finish
Price: ₹53,70,000
Crafted in sandblasted 18 kt yellow gold, this ultra-sophisticated timepiece exudes contemporary elegance while showcasing forward-thinking mechanics.
Octo Finissimo Automatic watch with mechanical manufacture ultra-thin movement (2.23 mm thin), automatic winding, platinum microrotor, hours, minutes and small seconds functions. With 60-hour power reserve and 21'600 VpH (3Hz) frequency. 40 mm sandblasted, the 18 kt yellow gold case (6.40 mm thin), sandblasted 18 kt yellow gold screw-down crown with ceramic insert, 18 kt yellow gold dial, black hands and indexes, transparent case back and sandblasted 18 kt yellow gold bracelet is with integrated folding buckle. The watch is water-resistant up to 100 metres.
Price on request
This diamond ring features a playful turning band that releases its positive energy with every spin, a constant reminder of the passion it represents. With a Possession-set diamond, and gold engraved using our "Decor Palace" technique, this turning ring shines with Piaget expertise. A symbol of love, joy, and happiness, this Possession rose gold diamond ring is more than an accessory, it's an ally.
Price: ₹29,000
This brooch captures the timeless silhouette of a single feather. Each strand is precisely set with Swarovski Zirconia, creating a true piece of jewelry art. Inspired by the majesty of the Swarovski Swan, the feather-like forms of the Vienna Collection honor a heritage of creativity and savoir-faire.
Price: ₹1,85,522
Small, deliberate and entirely personal, they are the rare piece of jewellery that explains itself to anyone who asks, the Jonty cufflinks by Blustone are 9.55 mm wide in 18k gold.